Loveland man faces charges for bear poaching

As a former felon, Paul Detwiler could not legally own firearms he used to shoot the bear or bull elk, bucks and pronghorns

By Jessica Maher Reporter-Herald Staff Writer

Posted:
01/30/2013 04:53:59 PM MST

Updated:
01/30/2013 04:54:04 PM MST

Detwiler

Following a Colorado Parks and Wildlife investigation, a Loveland man faces charges for allegedly engaging in illegal hunting practices, including killing a black bear outside of hunting season and eating the bear without preparing it for human consumption.

As a convicted felon who pleaded guilty to menacing in Larimer County in 2004, Paul J. Detwiler, 28, cannot legally possess the firearms that he reportedly used to shoot the bear along with bull elk, antelope, coyote, prairie dogs, bucks and pronghorn bucks.

According to an arrest affidavit filed last week, Colorado Parks and Wildlife Criminal Investigator Robert Pope out of Fort Collins began an undercover operation in November 2012, following information stemming from December 2011 that Detwiler was hunting with guns despite his felony conviction.

Pope went to Detwiler's Southwest 21st Street home in Loveland on Nov. 1, 2012 in a covert capacity, asking Detwiler if he'd found a cellphone that Pope lost and the two started a conversation about hunting.

Working undercover, Pope continued to communicate with Detwiler via text message. He also went on hunting trips with Detwiler and visited him at his home, where Pope reported seeing a chest freezer containing a coyote, raccoons, mink and a muskrat.

According to an arrest affidavit, Detwiler told Pope that he had shot the black bear on September 1, 2012 -- one day before the start off hunting season -- off the porch of a house in Las Animas County. He told Pope that he left the 200-pound bear in the field overnight and then took some meat and threw the rest of the carcass away.

In Colorado, it is illegal for a person to fail to reasonably attempt to dress or care for edible portions of game wildlife prior to human consumption.

He also skinned the bear and later took it to a taxidermist without seeking a mandatory inspection and seal from Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

Other conversations with Pope revealed that Detwiler hunted deer out of season and killed more than an annual license will allow, according to an arrest affidavit.

During hunting trips, Pope reported that Detwiler used lead and steel shotgun shells to hunt geese, which is against state law. The arrest affidavit also states that Pope accompanied Detwiler to check traps east of Loveland, which included illegal leg hold traps located on private property that Detwiler admitted not having permission to use.

Detwiler was arrested on Jan. 25. He has been charged with six felony counts of possession of firearms by a previous offender, illegal possession of a black bear, illegal take of a black bear prior to September 2, unlawful failure to provide for the human consumption of a black bear, two counts of illegal possession of mule deer buck and illegal possession of a pronghorn buck.

He is out of jail on $15,000 bond and is scheduled for his first appearance in 8th Judicial District Court on Feb. 5 at 8:30 a.m.